{{Short description|Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, India}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = Air Marshal | name = Balakrishnan Manikantan | honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=IND|PVSM|AVSM|VM}} | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = File:Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = | office = Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Air Command | term_start = 1 May 2025 | term_end = 31 May 2026 | predecessor = Ashutosh Dixit | office1 = Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command | term_start1 = 1 May 2023 | term_end1 = 30 April 2025 | predecessor1 = Jonnalagedda Chalapati | successor1 = Manish Khanna | birth_date = <!-- {{birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} or {{birth date|YYYY|MM|DD}} if dead --> | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} death date first, then birth date --> | death_place = | placeofburial = | placeofburial_label = | placeofburial_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} --> | nickname = | birth_place = Kottayam, Kerala | allegiance = {{Country|India}} | branch = {{Air force|India}} | service_years = 7 June 1986 – 31 may 2026 | rank = 24px Air Marshal | military_blank1 = Service number | military_data1 = 18291<ref name="bmani-brf">{{cite web|url=https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/18291|title=Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan - BRF|publisher=Bharat Rakshak|access-date=2023-05-01}}</ref> | unit = No. 152 Helicopter Unit | commands = Central Air Command<br>Southern Air Command | battles = Operation Meghdoot<br/> Operation Pawan | battles_label = | awards = Param Vishisht Seva Medal<br>Ati Vishisht Seva Medal <br>Vayu Sena Medal | spouse = Group Captain Nirmala Tutakne Manikantan | relations = | laterwork = | signature = | website = | other_name = | memorials = | signature_size = | signature_alt = | module = | alma_mater = Air Force Academy }}

Air Marshal '''Balakrishnan Manikantan''', PVSM, AVSM, VM is a retired officer of the Indian Air Force. He served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Central Air Command. Previously, he served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Air Command. He assumed the office on 1 May 2023 till 30 April 2025 succeeding Air Marshal Jonnalagedda Chalapati.<ref name="pib-020523">{{cite press release|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1921367|title= AIR MARSHAL BALAKRISHNAN MANIKANTAN TAKES OVER AS AIR OFFICER COMMANDING-IN-CHIEF SOUTHERN AIR COMMAND|publisher=PIB|date=2023-05-02}}</ref>

== Early life and education == Balakrishnan Manikantan, a native Thiruvarppu, a village in Kottayam, Kerala. Born to a teacher couple, Balakrishna Pillai and P K Lakshmi Kutty Amma, Manikantan is an alumnus of Sanik School, Kazhakootam and National Defence Academy, Pune. He holds a Post Graduate degree from Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Masters in Management Studies (MMS) from College of Defence Management, Secunderabad and M Phil from National Defence College, New Delhi.<ref name="iaf-sac">{{cite web|url=https://indianairforce.nic.in/southern-air-command|title=AOC-in-C-SAC|publisher=Indian Air Force|date=2023-05-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504072822/https://indianairforce.nic.in/southern-air-command/|archive-date=2023-05-04}}</ref><ref name="lmt-010523">{{cite web|url=https://www.lokmattimes.com/national/sainik-school-classmates-on-a-high-as-new-southern-air-command-chief-takes-over-on-tuesday/|title=Sainik School, classmates on a high as new Southern Air Command chief takes over on Tuesday |publisher=Lokmat Times|date=2023-05-01}}</ref>

==Career== Balakrishnan Manikantan was commissioned as the helicopter pilot in the Indian Air Force. In a career spanning over 37 years, he has as more than 5,400 hours of flying experience across various helicopters and fixed wing plane.<ref name="th-010523">{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/air-marshal-b-manikantan-takes-over-as-aoc-in-c-sac/article66803556.ece|title= Air Marshal B. Manikantan takes over as AOC-in-C, SAC|work=The Hindu|date=2023-05-01|first=Nanditakumar|last=T}}</ref>

He is a Helicopter combat leader and a Cat ‘A’ qualified flying instructor. He served as the commanding officer of No. 152 Helicopter Unit and has taken part in the Indian Air Force contingent at UN Mission in Congo.

As Group Captain, he served as the station commander of Allahabad Airport and later as Air Commodore, he served as the Air Officer Commanding of 21 Wing at AFS Leh in the Western sector. Under his command, the units won trophies for performance at the Command level.

As Air Vice Marshal, he served as the Senior Air & Administration Staff Officer, Maintenance Command at Nagpur. Later, helped in setting up International Defence Cooperation at HQ-IDS and served as the Assistant Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (ACIDS) at Integrated Defence Staff.

He took part in the Operation Pawan, an operation against LTTE by Indian Peace Keeping Force and Operation Meghdoot.<ref name="mb-100822">{{cite web|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/kottayam-native-becomes-3rd-malayali-to-be-promoted-as-air-marshal-1.7773921|title=Kottayam native B Manikandan becomes 3rd Malayali to be promoted as Air Marshal|publisher=Mathrubhumi|date=2022-08-10}}</ref>

After his promotion to Air Marshal in August 2022, he served as the Senior Air Staff Officer, Eastern Air Command till 30 April 2023.<ref name="nie-080822">{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2022/aug/08/kottayam-native-manikantan-set-to-become-air-marshal-2485195.html|title=Kottayam native Manikantan set to become Air Marshal|first=Cynthia|last=Chandran|publisher=New Indian Express|date=2022-08-08}}</ref>

He took over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command on 1 May 2023 from Air Marshal Jonnalagedda Chalapati and served till 30 April 2025.<ref name="pib-020523"/>

Later, he was appointed as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Air Command on 1 May 2025.<ref name="NIE-010525">{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Apr/30/armed-forces-up-for-major-rejig-as-new-northern-army-commander-iaf-vice-chief-appointed|title=Armed forces up for major rejig as new Northern Army Commander, IAF Vice Chief appointed|publisher=New Indian Express|date=2025-05-01}}</ref>

== Honours and decorations == During his career, Balakrishnan Manikantan has received the Commendation card by AOC-in-C, Training Command in 1988 and again by GOC-in-C, Northern Command in 2015. He has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2025, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2017 and Vayu Sena Medal in 2006 for his service.<ref name="PVSM">{{cite press release|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2096200|title=President approves Gallantry awards to 93 Armed Forces personnel, including 12 posthumous & 305 defence decorations on the eve of Republic Day 2025|work=PIB|date=2025-01-25}}</ref><ref name="iaf-sac"/><ref>{{cite press release|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1485391|title= 398 Republic Day Gallantry and other Defence Decorations Announced |publisher=PIB|date=2017-01-25}}</ref>

{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" | colspan="4" |{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |- | colspan="4" |{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Vayusena Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} 105x105px 105x105px |- |105x105px |105x105px |105x105px |105x105px |- |105x105px |105x105px |105x105px |105x105px |- |105x105px |105x105px |105x105px |105x105px |} {| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |- | colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |Param Vishisht Seva Medal | colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |Ati Vishisht Seva Medal |- | style="text-align: center;" |Vayu Sena Medal | colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" |Samanya Seva Medal |Special Service Medal |- | style="text-align: center;" |Siachen Glacier Medal | style="text-align: center;" |Operation Vijay Medal | style="text-align: center;" |Operation Parakram Medal |Sainya Seva Medal |- | style="text-align: center;" |High Altitude Medal | style="text-align: center;" |Videsh Seva Medal | style="text-align: center;" |75th Independence Anniversary Medal |50th Independence Anniversary Medal |- | style="text-align: center;" |30 Years Long Service Medal | style="text-align: center;" |20 Years Long Service Medal | style="text-align: center;" |9 Years Long Service Medal |MONUSCO |}

== Personal life == A fitness enthusiast and voracious reader, he is married to Group Captain Nirmala Tutakne Manikantan (Retd). The couple has a son Astrith and a daughter Abhishree.<ref name="mb-100822"/>

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{s-start}} {{s-mil}}{{Succession box | title = Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Air Command | years = 1 May 2025 – 31 May 2026 | before = Ashutosh Dixit | after = Incumbent }}{{Succession box | title = Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command | years = 1 May 2023 – 30 April 2025 | before = Jonnalagedda Chalapati | after = Manish Khanna }} {{Succession box | title = Senior Air Staff Officer - Eastern Air Command | years = 22 August 2022 – 30 April 2023 | before = Amar Preet Singh | after = Tejinder Singh }} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Manikantan, Balakrishnan}} Category:Sainik School alumni Category:Living people Category:Indian Air Force air marshals Category:Recipients of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Category:Recipients of the Vayu Sena Medal Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Defence Services Staff College alumni